Sept. 22, 2009
In one of the first West Coast Conference preseason forecasts on the upcoming season, the Santa Clara basketball team has been tabbed to finish third by the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. In addition, sophomore Kevin Foster is the only non-senior to be named to its preseason all-conference team and freshman Robert Smith is named the WCC Newcomer of the Year.
Bronco fans are encouraged to order season tickets today for the 18-game home schedule in 2009-10. Home contests include UNLV, Fresno State, Pacific, San Jose State, the 43rd annual Cable Car Classic (Kent State, Northeastern, Wofford), along with seven WCC contests in the Leavey Center. Bronco fans can order tickets by calling 408-554-4660.
In Kerry Keating's third year at the helm, Santa Clara brings in a squad that features no seniors and 10 underclassmen. Young, but very talented, SCU will play a more up-tempo style this year with the most athletic squad Keating has had under his watch.
Santa Clara finished fourth in the WCC last season, advancing to the semi-finals of the WCC Championship with the WCC Player of the Year John Bryant and the WCC Newcomer of the Year Kevin Foster.
Bryant was the only Bronco in school history to score 1,600+ points, grab 1,100+ rebounds and block 200+ shots; and he was No. 1 in the country in double-doubles, rebounds per game and total rebounds during regular-season play.
Foster's 85 three-pointers broke two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash's Bronco record of 84, dating back to 1995. Foster also broke the single season record with 232 three pointers attempted, breaking the record set by Kyle Bailey in 2005 when he attempted 198. In addition, freshman Marc Trasolini broke the school record for single season shooting percentage, hitting 68.1% to break a 37-year old record set by Mike Stewart when he shot 64.7%.
The following is list of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook predictions:
WEST COAST CONFERENCE BLUE RIBBON FORECAST
1. Gonzaga
2. Portland
3. Santa Clara
4. Saint Mary's
5. San Francisco
6. San Diego
7. Loyola Marymount
8. Pepperdine
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
G-T. J. Campbell, SR, Portland
G-Matt Bouldin, SR, Gonzaga
G-Kevin Foster, SO, Santa Clara
F-Dior Lowhorn, SR, San Francisco
C-Omar Samhan, SR, Saint Mary's
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Matt Bouldin, SR, Gonzaga
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Robert Smith, FR, Santa Clara
To order the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook see www.blueribbonyearbookonline.com or call the toll free number: 877-807-4857.